“I have been told to come for my wages.”

Nagendra, astonished, asked:  “What has happened?”

“I am dismissed. Ma Thakurani (the mistress) has dismissed me.”

“What have you done?” asked Nagendra.

“Kushi abused me; I complained:  the mistress believes her account and dismisses me.”

Nagendra, shaking his head and laughing, said:  “That is not a likely story, Hira; tell the truth.”

Hira then, speaking plainly, said:  “The truth is I will not stay.”

“Why?”

“The mistress has become quite altered.  One never knows what to expect from her.”

Nagendra, frowning, said in a sharp voice:  “What does that mean?”

Hira now brought in the fact she had wished to report.

“What did she not say that day to Kunda Nandini Thakurani?  On hearing it, Kunda left the house.  Our fear is that some day something of the same kind should be said to us.  We could not endure that, therefore I chose to anticipate it.”

“What are you talking about?” asked Nagendra.

“I cannot tell you for shame.”

Nagendra’s brow became dark.  He said:  “Go home for to-day; I will call you to-morrow.”

Hira’s desire was accomplished.  With this design she had quarrelled with Kousalya.

Nagendra rose and went to Surja Mukhi.  Stepping lightly, Hira followed him.

Taking Surja Mukhi aside, he asked, “Have you dismissed Hira?”

Surja Mukhi replied, “Yes,” and then related the particulars.

On hearing them, Nagendra said:  “Let her go.  What did you say to Kunda Nandini?”

Nagendra saw that Surja Mukhi turned pale.

“What did I say to her?” she stammered.

“Yes; what evil words did you use to her?”

Surja Mukhi remained silent some moments.  Then she said—­

“You are my all, my present and my future; why should I hide anything from you?  I did speak harshly to Kunda; then, fearing you would be angry, I said nothing to you about it.  Forgive me that offence; I am telling you all.”

Then she related the whole matter frankly, from the discovery of the Boisnavi Haridasi to the reproof she had given to Kunda.  At the end she said—­

“I am deeply sorrowful that I have driven Kunda Nandini away.  I have sent everywhere in search of her.  If I had found her, I would have brought her back.”

Nagendra said—­

“Your fault is not great.  Could any respectable man’s wife, hearing of such a stain, give refuge to the guilty person?  But would it not have been well to think a little whether the charge was true?  Did you not know of the talk about Tara Charan’s house?  Had you not heard that Debendra had been introduced to Kunda three years before?  Why did you believe a drunkard’s words?”

“I did not think of that at the time.  Now I do.  My mind was wandering.”  As she spoke the faithful wife sank at Nagendra’s feet, and clasping them with her hands, wetted them with her tears.  Then raising her face, she said:  “Oh, dearer than life, I will conceal nothing that is in my mind.”